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Post by anthony40 on May 29, 2016 14:44:04 GMT
I also know him because the Barnum musical DVD which I've had for many years
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Post by Deleted on May 29, 2016 15:02:37 GMT
How olds a youngster anyway? I'm 39 and certainly not a youngster! I don't imagine even if the younger generations know who he is will book to see this on his involvement. He ain't Kit Harington. I think we youngsters know him for originating the title role in Phantom of the Opera 39? I always assumed you were a lot younger, mrb... Some of these ages are quite revealing. |
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Post by mrbarnaby on May 29, 2016 18:20:17 GMT
I'm MUCH younger inside.... I can easily pass for 38.
I was young once... Sigh..
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Post by anthony40 on May 29, 2016 18:31:21 GMT
Yeah, I was too. But I wasn't younger in London
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Post by couldileaveyou on Jun 1, 2016 22:57:14 GMT
So, I went to see it tonight. The first act is completely forgettable, the second is considerably better but again not particolarly rememberable. I found the Old Leo to be too obstrusive at time, I would have enjoyed the characters to speak more for themselves. The cast is good, but I didn't enjoy very much the performance of tonight Young Leo. I don't like talking bad of a child actor, but he was so uncharismatic, little Marcus outshone him in every single scene. His voice was quite lovely when he sang the extract from la belle dame sans merci at the beginning of act 2, tho.
I really liked the costumes and the scenery, it's a charming production and I'm glad they were brave enough to stage a chamber musical in the West End, too bad the score is nothing special. It's not a bad musical - I mean, it's not a grotesque monstruosity like wonder.land - it's just forgettable. You see it, you enjoy it, you never think of it again.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2016 23:15:06 GMT
So, I went to see it tonight. The first act is completely forgettable, the second is considerably better but again not particolarly rememberable. I found the Old Leo to be too obstrusive at time, I would have enjoyed the characters to speak more for themselves. The cast is good, but I didn't enjoy very much the performance of tonight Young Leo. I don't like talking bad of a child actor, but he was so uncharismatic, little Marcus outshone him in every single scene. His voice was quite lovely when he sang the extract from la belle dame sans merci at the beginning of act 2, tho. I really liked the costumes and the scenery, it's a charming production and I'm glad they were brave enough to stage a chamber musical in the West End, too bad the score is nothing special. It's not a bad musical - I mean, it's not a grotesque monstruosity like wonder.land - it's just forgettable. You see it, you enjoy it, you never think of it again. Many thanks for this posting You have saved me going to see it Again A thousand thanks |
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Post by gra on Jun 1, 2016 23:22:05 GMT
Also saw it tonight.
Agree that it is charming but rather forgettable. Almost a chamber opera with a few decent songs.
Michael Crawford as the troubled 'older Leo' lurked throughout which, in my opinion, gave the show too much angst.
I preferred the first act and felt the second was too long, particularly towards the end.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Jun 2, 2016 7:03:11 GMT
I'm all for a single piano for a fringe musical but for the West End
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 2, 2016 7:39:21 GMT
I'm all for a single piano for a fringe musical but for the West End Yes, when I heard that the show only had a single piano it really put me off. It just screams - cheap! It's not a Bill Kenwright production is it? |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2016 9:26:54 GMT
I'm all for a single piano for a fringe musical but for the West End Yes, when I heard that the show only had a single piano it really put me off. It just screams - cheap! It's not a Bill Kenwright production is it? It is. |
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Post by wickedgrin on Jun 2, 2016 9:52:24 GMT
You're kidding me! I didn't know that! Only one piano makes sense now. LOL
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Post by firefingers on Jun 2, 2016 10:46:51 GMT
You're kidding me! I didn't know that! Only one piano makes sense now. LOL But Bill normally fills out the rest of his scores with backing tracks. But for this even doing that is too expensive.  Poor Bill has been ill for a while now, so I do wonder how much involvement he has in BKL stuff anyway. |
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Post by stevej678 on Jun 4, 2016 17:45:24 GMT
45 minutes before curtain up and there's currently the grand total of seven of us waiting to see this in the foyer at the Apollo.
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Post by ali973 on Jun 4, 2016 18:16:46 GMT
45 minutes before curtain up and there's currently the grand total of seven of us waiting to see this in the foyer at the Apollo. Sounds like Love Story. And Show Boat. And Imagine This. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2016 18:17:58 GMT
Except love story was at least a brilliant show
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Post by oxfordsimon on Jun 4, 2016 19:10:27 GMT
45 minutes before curtain up? Who gets to a show that early?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2016 19:27:26 GMT
45 minutes before curtain up and there's currently the grand total of seven of us waiting to see this in the foyer at the Apollo. Sounds like Love Story. And Show Boat. And Imagine This. Show Boat has been doing alright, since it announced closing. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2016 19:45:34 GMT
Sounds like Love Story. And Show Boat. And Imagine This. Show Boat has been doing alright, since it announced closing. Yeah, I thought that! |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2016 19:46:34 GMT
45 minutes before curtain up and there's currently the grand total of seven of us waiting to see this in the foyer at the Apollo. I didn't think this would do amazing. Not a very great story? Comsering the Apollo is small too! Gemma Sutton should've done Kinky Boots! |
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Post by anthony40 on Jun 4, 2016 19:48:35 GMT
45 minutes before curtain up and there's currently the grand total of seven of us waiting to see this in the foyer at the Apollo. O.M.G.! |
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Post by viserys on Jun 4, 2016 19:50:48 GMT
So how full was it at curtain up?
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Post by stevej678 on Jun 4, 2016 19:52:43 GMT
Stalls around half full, probably slightly less, but this is actually quite a charming and gently compelling production in a Sunday night drama kind of way.
It's a mixture of spoken dialogue, sung through dialogue and fragments of songs. The music is rather beautiful.
The two young actors playing Leo and Marcus are doing a great job and Gemma Sutton is marvellous as always. A solitary full length song, Butterfly, performed by Michael Crawford, is perhaps the standout moment.
The set adds to the sense of claustrophobia of the piece pretty well, aided by all of the cast generally being on stage or observing from the numerous doorways looking onto the stage throughout.
I think this will get decent reviews on the basis of the first half. In many ways it's refreshingly different to its competition in the West End but it really doesn't feel like a potential hit in the making.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2016 19:59:15 GMT
I dont know how they're going to make their money back from this as its only a few months run and it's a brand new musical? Also, Michael Crawford must've cost abit of money to get back into the theatre? I'm
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Post by mallardo on Jun 4, 2016 20:04:01 GMT
I was at the matinee today and the theatre was pretty much packed - certainly the stalls were - and all three levels were open. The show works. The bravos started even before the final blackout and continued through the bows. Michael Crawford got a big standing ovation. That's what I experienced.
More thoughts on the show - all positive - tomorrow. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2016 20:07:52 GMT
45 minutes before curtain up and there's currently the grand total of seven of us waiting to see this in the foyer at the Apollo. I didn't think this would do amazing. Not a very great story? Comsering the Apollo is small too! Gemma Sutton should've done Kinky Boots! It's a beautiful, marvellous story! |
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